Life changes and menstrual discomfort.

The present study addressed the relationship between the accumulation of life changes and problems with menstruation. Female college students completed a Life Experiences Survey, which assesses desirable and undesirable life changes, and a menstruation questionnaire, which contains items relevant to menstrual discomfort and irregularity. Correlational analyses showed that undersirable life changes were correlated with reports of number of symptoms of menstrual discomfort, but not irregularity. Separate analyses among oral contraceptive users and nonusers showed that the relationship between life changes and menstrual discomfort occurred only among nonusers. A regression of contraceptive use, desirable life changes, and undersirable life changes on factors derived from the menstruation questionnaire indicated that undesirable life changes was the strongest predictor of menstrual problems.